handheld versus in car UHF radio
Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 22:53
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Member - Tim D (VIC)
As I am unable to get my bull bar in time for my trip to
Katherine I now am looking at my options as what to do about a
UHF radio GME make a handheld TX6200 price of $398 which has 5watts output power would I need a external antenna for this unit for my trip on the Stzrelecki Track/
Oodnadatta If I do need a external antenna where would I mount it now I have no bull bar.
Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 23:26
Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 23:26
Tim don't buy a hand held unless you absolutely have to.
They have a bad habit of falling down around your feet just when you don't want them to, real rough track and your in a tangle.
Our 4wd club does not allow them due to this reason to high risk of accidents.
Buy a good GME and fix it in properly.
Also stops you from leaving it somewhere or the kids losing it on you.
Also most are 5 watts hand held is normally lower.
AnswerID:
71172
Follow Up By: Member - Mungo Explorer (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 23:28
Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 23:28
The handheld unit in question is 5w, and there's a car kit available to mount it properly.
FollowupID:
331384
Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 23:51
Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 23:51
Sorry Mungo did not read the 5 w description properly.
Yeah if he can mount it in the car kit might just do the job
FollowupID:
331391
Follow Up By: Member - Robb (NSW) - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 14:45
Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 14:45
Your 4wd club has banned hand-helds? Which club is it?
FollowupID:
331472
Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 15:04
Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 15:04
Robb
I am in the Toyota Landcrusier Club Vic.
All club members must have a fixed installation
UHF radio in the vehicle before they can undertake driver awareness or any club trip / activity.
As stated above by experience they have become aware on a first hand situation of the realities of drivers using a hand held in a moving 4wd.
FollowupID:
331474
Follow Up By: Member - Bernie. (Vic) - Thursday, Aug 05, 2004 at 00:32
Thursday, Aug 05, 2004 at 00:32
John, a big part of the problem is the batteries go flat and then you can't communicate ( thats on the cheapies) the GME 6200 would run of the 12 volt car battery, & with the right aerial should be not much different to a fixed unit.
Tim, I have the GME 3400 remote head a tad dearer than a 3200 & about the same as the hand held, mount the unit under the dash or somewhere out the way,
mine is under the the center console cover and still hear OK, the small head just velcro some where convenient.
Cheers
FollowupID:
331534
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 11:48
Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 11:48
Your talking of spending $400 on a handheld + Mounting kit Plus the external antenna, which yes you would need, as it would be the thing to give you the range..
The antenna is what gives you the range, you can have a 10 w unit with a shonk ariel, and get nowhere, or a 2w unit with a better ariel, and get same or better distance.
Thats a lot of money for a hand held unit. at about $5-600 with all the works.
You can get incar with remote head for about that. Buy the incar one, and go remote head, then as others have said, double sided tape it to the top of the dash, or the center console. One bloke in our club has the remote had sitting IN the cetner console, not bolted up.
http://www.prestigecom.net.au/
Best prices, and $8 overnight delivery to your door.
AnswerID:
71244
Reply By: W from Jerilderie Motors Pty Ltd - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 13:18
Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 13:18
I use magnetic base external aerial in middle of roof to small electrophone tx3200 in different car every day with cigarette lighter attatchment charging on 4 post outlet with 3 mobiles in car charging @ same time every day & have no drama.
Re hurting paint I put some race tape/cloth tape on the magnetic base years ago & still there today, I put 3 pieces race tape on roof, sit base over it then tape over the top of base to save high loads on trucks with wind bothering it.
I jam the uhf & 4outlet charger between passenger
seat & console in all sorts vehicles & the ONLY drama I ever get is with the aerial in my briefcase on way
home some days after a delivery @ airport security they think I am going to stab somebody on plane with aerial, sometimes it gets through & I have briefcase on plane @ other times @
home end I have to wait for briefcase in luggage hold, but it works fine everywhere & helps me stay awake all night on those trips listening to the truckies laughs etc.
AnswerID:
71258
Reply By: Utemad - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 16:13
Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 16:13
I would buy whatever set up you would have if you had your bullbar and mount the radio as you would anyway as that part is permanent with or without your bar. The antenna I would put on your roof rack. We used to just route the antenna cable under the door rubber on our old work VT commodores with roof rack antennas. They were there for years without an issue.
The roof is probably the best place for reception anyway. I have seen twin antenna setups where the antenna is placed on the bullbar for around town and then screwed to the roofrack mount when going on outback trips.
Wherever it is you put the antenna you will need to completely remove the antenna and cable anyway so as to get the bracket off the cable and then refit the antenna to the bullbar. Some antennas you cannot get at the cable on the mount end easily or at all. I would prefer not to play with the outside end of the cable anyway as the less you touch it the better the connection should be. Due to contaminants or whatever.
Although if you don't mind playing with the antenna end of the cable then I'd put it on the guard with some extra cable.
Utemad
AnswerID:
71285
Reply By: Crackles - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 21:46
Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 21:46
Tim. The radio in question has more than enough range for the trip you are doing.
You will have plenty of power to talk to other road users without dropping out for at least 5 KM. By standing on the car roof we've spoken 12 KM with a 5 W handheld on flat open ground so in an emergency your coverage is acceptable & would probably get you into one of several UHF repeaters on those tracks.
An external antena will always be better & a
good spot I use is mounted behind the snorkell air intake. It needs to be a small flexable ground independent type but it's up high & will never get broken off. Cheers Craig..................
AnswerID:
71335